Posts Tagged ‘WSUD’

It’s nearly winter and hopefully time to replenish some of our urban water sources. Clearwater has recently published a great case study on the Royal Park Stormwater Harvesting project, which has evolved since its launch in 2006:

“The 1984 Royal Park Master Plan proposed the development of a wetland, which would provide a range of benefits to the local community. In 1998, following on from this preliminary idea, a stormwater harvesting system was included in the Master Plan, and the conceptual design was finalised in 2004. When Melbourne hosted the Commonwealth Games in 2006, there was a strong push for environmental initiatives. Given that the chosen site for the Athlete’s Village was adjacent to the proposed wetland location, the construction of the Village became the main driver to implement the wetland and stormwater harvesting project. It was completed in time for the 2006 Commonwealth Games and the area was included in the secure recreation zone of the Athlete’s Village.

Stormwater is diverted from an open Melbourne Water stormwater drain, which collects water from a 187ha catchment area. The diversion structure, which also acts as a sediment trap, allows only low flows into the constructed wetland which is 0.8ha in size. The treated water then flows into a 12ML storage basin, which allows overflow into Moonee Ponds Creek. This storage space was supplemented in 2008 by a 5ML underground tank, situated below one of the sporting fields. To ensure the water is fit-for-purpose, it is treated with UV light and held in a distribution tank prior to use for irrigation of the neighbouring golf course, sports ovals and parkland. To minimise human health risks, the water is applied at night-time through spray irrigation. The system has a back-up supply with a connection to potable mains water. Two water hydrants are also located in an adjacent street to allow trucks to fill up and use the treated water for irrigation of streetscape features.”

Read the full article on Clearwater’s site for more details and great pictures, or to download the case study as a PDF.

The City of Greater Geelong has embarked upon a number of stormwater harvesting projects to reduce the City’s potable water use and maintain green open space and recreational assets. Two of these projects are detailed below.

Kardinia Park is an open space precinct that includes Simonds Stadium, home to the Geelong Football Club, and a number of other football/cricket ovals. The precinct is an important asset in the sporting and cultural identity of the Greater Geelong. The stormwater harvesting system diverts stormwater runoff from a 30ha area of Newtown and from nearby roofs and playing fields into a new underground storage tank. Water is drawn from this storage tank and used to irrigate the AFL ground’s playing surface and other surrounding ovals. The scheme is expected to save 13 megalitres of potable water per year.

Grinter Reserve was a product of the City’s Sustainable Water Use Plan developed or established in 2006. Stormwater from a conventional drainage system from an adjacent 200ha residential suburb is diverted into a constructed wetland in Grinter Reserve. Additional water sourced from the ‘Splashdown’ aquatic facility located within the Reserve allows approximately 30 megalitres of cleaned water to supply 100% of the irrigation demand for the reserve, providing ecological habitat and amenity and eliminating the need for potable water.

Living Rivers is a Melbourne Water program offering tailored packages of technical and funding support for the implementation of strategic and structural water-sensitive urban design (WSUD) projects. They have recently developed fact sheets detailing the program aims, funding packages and frequently asked questions. Living Rivers works in partnership with 38 local councils across Melbourne to increase council’s capacity to deliver sustainable stormwater management outcomes. They are a proud supporter of the Clearwater program and we work closely together to develop and deliver complimentary council capacity building initiatives to accelerate the uptake of WSUD.

Click here to view Living Rivers Fact Sheets which have details such as FAQs, various funding packages, and Program contacts.

Council experts and design consultants will be onsite to provide insights into the development and management of each project, discussing challenges, learnings and outcomes from concept to completion. This tour will visit tree pits, raingardens in both commercial and residential areas, stormwater harvest systems designed for open space irrigation and vehicle washdown sites. You will gain an insight into project goals, costs, engineering, landscaping and maintenance considerations and community engagement. The tour will include visits to 7 sites; morning tea; sit down networking lunch. Suitable for anyone involved in sustainable water planning or asset maintenance / design, including developers, planners, architects, environment and maintenance staff.

8:50AM – 1:30PM, Friday 14th October 2011

The City of Port Phillip Water Plan is a great example of a municipal strategy, that sets long term integrated water management targets and promotes a water sensitive approach to urban water management. The plan sets considerable targets for reduction in council and community mains water consumption, and promotes the substitution of mains supply with alternative water sources where appropriate. Pollution reduction targets are set to be achieved through an increase in water sensitive urban design (WSUD) projects in road, drainage, and streetscape works.

The City of Port Phillip Water Plan recently won the 2011 Stormwater Victoria Excellence Awards in the category of Research, Innovation, Policy and Education.

Is your council keen to gain a better understanding of its Water Sensitive Urban Design assets? Are you interested in exploring ways of recording information necessary for effective WSUD management? Do you want to hear how local councils are starting asset registers to manage Water Sensitive Urban Design across departments?

This Clearwater Hot Topic is a terrific opportunity to hear about the importance of developing a WSUD asset register in council. Presentations throughout the day will be supported with facilitated discussion and workshop activities. Suitable for asset managers, open space managers, technology/communications staff, engineers, environment and maintenance staff.

As an attendee you will:

Realise the value of starting an asset register that incorporates Water Sensitive Urban Design along with drainage infrastructure.

View examples of WSUD asset registers developed by local councils and see how they are being used to share information, support maintenance and future planning.

Have the opportunity to discuss different ways to capture, manage and use data for Water Sensitive Urban Design.